Introduction The purpose of this unit is to: Understand deeper the redemption by God of Israel and the implications for their life of faith as described in the book of Deuteronomy. We ll specifically look at Deuteronomy 4:32-40. It may be helpful to acknowledge that these notes are trying to bring two aspects together. The first is to understand the unfolding text of the Bible. The second is to present a model for how to correctly interpret any passage in the Bible. The Bible Passage For Unit 5 and 6, we move from Abraham and the promises (recorded in Genesis) to Moses and the address (recorded in Deuteronomy) which he gives to the second generation of Israel as they prepare to enter into the Promised Land. Read Deuteronomy 4:32-40. Our aim here is just to make ourselves familiar with what is being said as our source, the passage in question. On its own, this passage should generate several questions for us. Original Context Now we want to seek to understand what is being said. To do that we need to understand its original context. So we look to understand its literary context (what the words are saying) and its historical context (what the situation into which the words are being written). Literary Context 1. What is the Style of Writing? Ken D Noakes 1 of 7 17/7/2016
Question: What is the style of writing is Deuteronomy 4:32-40? 2. What is the immediate and broader setting? The immediate setting is that which is right before us in the passage. Look at the passage itself, what can you quickly pick up words, phrases, repeated and key ideas? Our Passage Deuteronomy 4:32-40 The broader setting will help us to understand something about the whole book of Deuteronomy and locate the passage in its own time. Question: What do we know about Deuteronomy as a whole? Where does our passage fall in the structure of Deuteronomy? Ken D Noakes 2 of 7 17/7/2016
3. Are there words that require a theological understanding? On the whole, our passage is quick straight forward and there are no complicated theological terms to check out. It might be worth looking at the comment about his Presence in verse 37. Historical Context Now to the situation into which the words were written. Given the passage refers back to events that have already occurred, this will be an important step. 1. In what situation, or for what situation, was the passage originally written? The speeches of Deuteronomy recall many events that happened in the previous generation of Israel. The book of Exodus details many important acts of redemption by God to free Israel from slavery in Egypt. And so to Exodus we go for historical context. Exodus 5:22-6:8 22 Moses returned to the LORD and said, Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all. 6 Then the LORD said to Moses, Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country. 2 God also said to Moses, I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Therefore, say to the Israelites: I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD. Ken D Noakes 3 of 7 17/7/2016
Exodus 5:22-6:8 is a key passage which helps establish the Mosaic Covenant. It speaks of what God says he will do for his people Israel (and a summary of what he did do then appears in Exodus 7:14-14:31). a. What prompts this response from God (5:22-23)? b. What does God promise and why (6:1-8)? c. At this point, has God asked anything of his people Israel? Moses led the Israelites to Mt Sinai where the 10 Commandments were given as the basis of their obedient new life in the Promised Land. Exodus 19:1-8 19 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt on that very day they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. 7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, We will do everything the LORD has said. So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD. Ken D Noakes 4 of 7 17/7/2016
Exodus 19:1-8 is a Further key passage in establishing the Mosaic Covenant and provides further historical background. a. What are God s intentions here for his people (c.f. vv3-6)? b. At this point, has God asked anything of his people Israel? c. What do the people promise (v8)? Their sinfulness and rebellion rather than their obedience became the norm they grumbled, they created a golden calf and as a result that wandered for forty years until all of the first generation of Israelites had died. This historical context helps us to see when Moses addressed the second generation of Israel as he did in Deuteronomy. 2. What was the meaning and purpose (of the passage) in the original setting? The point here is to think about what the passage would have said to the original readers (the second generation of Israel) and if there is a future movement in God s plan that we need to look for. It should be clear that our passage Deuteronomy 4:32-40 comes at a pivotal point in the history of Israel. Ken D Noakes 5 of 7 17/7/2016
Returning back to Deuteronomy 4:32-40. What does our passage (in its original context) say about: a. How God has redeemed his people? b. How God speaks to his people? c. Whether God is good for his promises? d. How Israel should respond to God? The passage highlights that all of God s acts are based on his promise to Israel s forefathers (4:37) and that: He has spoken to his people (4:32-33, 36) He has delivered his people (4:34,37) He will establish his people (4:38) And now quite fittingly, he asks that his people be obedient and keep his commandments going forward (4:39-40). Next step is to look at the Biblical Context and then Application. For next Week: Read PTC Unit 6. Ken D Noakes 6 of 7 17/7/2016
Appendix 1 Deuteronomy 4:32-40 (NIV 2011) 32 Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? 33 Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? 34 Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? 35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other. 36 From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. 37 Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, 38 to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today. 39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. 40 Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time. Ken D Noakes 7 of 7 17/7/2016